The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among serum leptin, nutritional status, and the obesity indices of 55 obese children in Daegu and Kyungpook area. Obesity was defined as fat percentage that exceed 25% of body fat mass. Energy and nutritional status were tended to be low, and dietary intake of calcium and iron were less than any other nutrients in all the subjects. Especially, beverage intake of obese group was more than non-obese group. The leptin level were significantly correlated with %RDA of energy (0.41, p < 0.001), protein (0.44, p < 0.001), phosphate (0.40, p < 0.001), iron (0.37, p < 0.001), vitamin A (0.31, p < 0.01), thiamin (0.40, p < 0.001), riboflavin (0.26, p < 0.05), niacin (0.51, p < 0.001), and vitamin C (0.24, p < 0.05). The leptin level were significantly correlated with MAR (mean adequacy ratio, r = 0.43, p < 0.001) and INQ (index of nutrient quality) of thiamin (r = 0.22, p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that %RDA of niacin in obese group (R2 = 0.208, p = 0.001) and total subjects (R2 = 0.257, p = 0.000), MAR (p = 0.003) and INQ (p = 0.048) of niacin in obese group (R2 = 0.255) and MAR (p = 0.000) and INQ of Ca (p = 0.024) in total subjects (R2 = 0.231) may be important independent predictors to leptin level. MAR showed a significantly positive correlation with %fat (r = 0.42, p < 0.01), BMI (r = 0.46, p < 0.01), RW (r = 0.44, p < 0.01), WHR (r = 0.39, p < 0.01) and, %RDA (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). These data indicated relationships among leptin level, nutrient intake, %RDA, MAR, and INQ in children.
Adipose Tissue ; Ascorbic Acid ; Beverages ; Calcium ; Child* ; Daegu ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Iron ; Leptin* ; Niacin ; Nutritional Status ; Obesity ; Riboflavin ; Vitamin A

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among eating habits, eating behaviors, obesity indices and serum leptin levels of 97 school children in the Daegu and Kyungpuk areas. The subjects consisted of 42 boys and 55 girls from the 4th and 5th grades. The prevalence rate of obesity was 63.6% in the males and 36.4% in the females. The nutritional status of the subjects was assessed using 24-hour dietary recalls and blood analyses. The mean serum leptin levels of the obese group (12.84 +/- 6.97 ng/ml) were significantly higher than those of the non-obese group (2.43 +/- 1.53 ng/ml)(p < 0.001). The mean eating behavior scores and MAR were significantly different in the two groups. Nutrient intakes were low and fell short of the RDA. Serum leptin levels showed a significant negative correlation with eating habit (r = -0.24) and eating behavior scores (r = -0.40)(p < 0.05, p < 0.001). It was speculated that nutritional intervention and education about the appropriate nutrient intake requirements of developing children might be necessary.
Child* ; Daegu ; Eating* ; Education ; Feeding Behavior* ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin* ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Obesity* ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: Melasma is a common, acquired, symmetrical hypermelanosis that occurs on sun exposed areas of the skin. It is more prevalent among Asian women than among Caucasian women. Many different treatment modalities have been used with various efficacies, but none of them have been completely satisfactory. Arbutin is a naturally occurring gluconopyranoside that may reduce tyrosinase activity, which is a rate-limiting enzyme for melanin production. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the depigmenting effect and safety of a mask that contains 2% arbutin for the treatment of melasma. METHODS: A total of 54 female volunteers with melasma were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, 8-week treatment study. The patients were instructed to apply an arbutin-containing mask or an arbutin-free mask once a day for 8 weeks. The assessment of outcomes included the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) score, colorimetric value (L*), overall patient satisfaction and investigator assessment score (evaluated using photography). RESULTS: The arbutin-containing mask significantly increased the right and left colorimetric values (L*) after the 8-week treatment (p<0.05) compared to the arbutin-free mask. The MASI score was decreased more in the arbutin mask group (p>0.05). The arbutin mask scored better than the control in patient satisfaction and investigator assessment. No significant adverse reactions were observed. CONCLUSION: The arbutin mask appears to be effective and well-tolerated when used for the treatment of melasma.
Arbutin ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogel ; Hyperpigmentation ; Masks ; Melanins ; Melanosis ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Patient Satisfaction ; Research Personnel ; Skin ; Solar System

Acinetobacter baumannii has been increasingly reported as a significant causative organism of various nosocomial infections. Here we describe an outbreak of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) in the ICUs of a Korean university hospital, along with a successful outbreak control program. From October 2007 through July 2008, CRAB was isolated from 57 ICU patients. Nineteen patients were diagnosed as being truly infected with CRAB, four of whom were presumed to have died due to CRAB infection, producing a case-fatality rate of 21.1%. In surveillance of the environment and the healthcare workers (HCWs), CRAB was isolated from 24 (17.9%) of 135 environmental samples and seven (10.9%) of 65 HCWs. The pulsed field gel electrophoresis patterns showed that the isolates from patients, HCWs, and the environment were genetically related. Control of the outbreak was achieved by enforcing contact precautions, reducing environmental contamination through massive cleaning, and use of a closed-suctioning system. By August 2008 there were no new cases of CRAB in the ICUs. This study shows that the extensive spread of CRAB can happen through HCWs and the environmental contamination, and that proper strategies including strict contact precautions, massive environmental decontamination, and a closed-suctioning system can be effective for controlling CRAB outbreaks.
*Acinetobacter Infections/drug therapy/epidemiology/prevention & control ; Acinetobacter baumannii/isolation & purification/metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; *Cross Infection/drug therapy/epidemiology/prevention & control ; *Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Infant ; Infection Control/*methods ; *Intensive Care Units ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is defined as the presence of either an intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) > or = 12 mmHg or an abdominal perfusion pressure (APP = mean arterial pressure - IAP) < or = 60 mmHg. Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is defined as the presence of an IAP > or = 20 mmHg together with organ failure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of IAH and ACS on the day of admission and the effects of these maladies on the prognosis of critically ill patients in the ICU. METHODS: At the day of admission to the ICU, the IAP was recorded by measuring the intravesicular pressure via a Foley catheter. The APACHE II and III scores were checked and SAPS II was also scored during the days the patients were in the ICU. The primary end point was the prevalence of IAH and ACS at the day of admission and the correlation between them with the 28-days mortality rate. The measurement of IAP continued until the 7th day or the day when the patient was transferred to the general ward before 7th day, unless the patient died or a Foley catheter was removed before 7th day. Patients were observed until death or the 28th day. RESULTS: A total of 111 patients were enrolled. At the day of admission, the prevalence of IAH and ACS were 47.7% and 15.3%, respectively and the mean IAP was 15.1+/-8.5 mmHg. The rates of IAH for the survivor and the non-survivor groups were 56.5% and 71.4%, respectively, and these were not significantly different (p=0.593). Yet the rates of ACS between these two groups were significantly different (4/62, 6.5% vs. 13/49, 26.5%; Odds Ratio = 5.24, 95% CI = 1.58-17.30, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: In the present study, the prevalence of IAH was 47.7% and the prevalence of ACS was 15.3% on the day of admission. ACS was associated with a poor outcome for the critically ill patients in the ICU.
Abdomen ; APACHE ; Arterial Pressure ; Catheters ; Compartment Syndromes ; Critical Care ; Critical Illness* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Intra-Abdominal Hypertension* ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Patients' Rooms ; Perfusion ; Prevalence ; Prognosis* ; Survivors